Honored Leader: Ron Huston, CEO
Company Name: Advanced Circuits
Location: Aurora, Colo.
Nature of Business: A manufacturer of custom printed circuit
boards.
Founded: 1989
Revenue: $30 million
Growth Rate (2003): 17 percent
Number of Employees: 185
Average Tenure: 6 years
Advanced Circuits, a manufacturer of custom-printed circuit boards, has grown at an average rate of 13 percent over the last three years in an industry that has declined at an average rate of 25 percent. What’s the secret? Ron Huston connects the work of his 185 employees with clear measures that help them understand both their progress and how they influence business outcomes. He also understands that engaged employees are more likely to address and solve key business problems, so he regularly seeks workers’ advice on issues large and small. Finally, he knows how to make facing and beating business challenges fun. For example, when Advanced Circuits successfully solved a quality problem, i.e. crashing restarts, employees got to demolish a car with sledge hammers on their lunch break.